Ian Sherlock | Syracuse NY, USA

IAN SHERLOCK | SYRACUSE NY, USA

Short Bio:

I make photographs, sounds, and drawings centered around the land. I studied at the School of Visual Arts and Syracuse University where I earned my BFA in Fine Art Photography. I worked as a professional printmaker afterward at Lightwork and have recently made the move to further my understanding with “natural” environments by leaving for a job with the Boy Scouts of America in the Green Mountains. I play in a punk band, run for lengths of time that cause my organs to fail and make photographs from time to time.

What is your work about?

The project “Dearheart” represents my personal fantasies of escapism, and an understanding of societies universal fascination with this idea as well. More specifically, I’m interested in the evidence of this notion that has manifested physically in the landscape itself, formed in the wake of our movements in the endeavor to be transported, and to escape. The land has similar desires as well when it comes to escape, solitude, and the act of hiding. I believe my knowledge of this creates a stronger relationship between myself and the spaces I occupy. The process of making these images was an attempt at understanding this relationship and hoping to translate it to others the best that I am able.

How does photographing on film (or using your material photographic process of predilection) inform your artistic practice?

Photographing on film elevates the medium to the same level of preciousness as the subjects that I am photographing. It slows me down, makes me think more completely, and allows to spend more time looking and interacting with the land or subjects versus firing the shutter blindly. Post image making, film allows me the ability to make prints by hand, in a more intuitive and intimate fashion. Working in the darkroom engaged my hands and helps to synchronize mind and body just as my other practices do such as running.